tiktok

TikTok struggles to stabilise US infrastructure after data centre outage

TikTok says recovery of its US infrastructure is progressing, although technical issues continue to affect parts of the platform after a data centre power outage.

The disruption followed the launch of a new US-based entity backed by American investors, a move aimed at avoiding a nationwide ban.

Users across the country reported problems with searches, video playback, posting content, loading comments and unexpected behaviour in the For You algorithm. TikTok said the outage also affected other apps and warned that slower load times and timeouts may persist, rather than returning to normal performance.

In a statement posted by the TikTok USDS Joint Venture, the company said collaboration with its US data centre partner has restored much of the infrastructure, but posting new content may still trigger errors.

Creators may also see missing views, likes, or earnings due to server timeouts rather than actual data loss.

TikTok has not named the data centre partner involved, while severe winter storms across the US may have contributed to the outage. Despite growing scepticism around the timing of the disruption, the company insists that user data and engagement remain secure.

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Data privacy shifts from breaches to authorised surveillance

Data Privacy Week has returned at a time when personal information is increasingly collected by default rather than through breaches. Campaigns urge awareness, yet privacy is being reshaped by lawful, large-scale data gathering driven by corporate and government systems.

In the US, companies now collect, retain and combine data with AI tools under legal authority, often without meaningful consent. Platforms such as TikTok illustrate how vast datasets are harvested regardless of ownership, shifting debates towards who controls data rather than how much is taken.

US policy responses have focused on national security rather than limiting surveillance itself. Pressure on TikTok to separate from Chinese ownership left data collection intact, while border authorities in the US are seeking broader access to travellers’ digital and biometric information.

Across the US technology sector, privacy increasingly centres on agency rather than secrecy. Data Privacy Week highlights growing concern that once information is gathered, control is lost, leaving accountability lagging behind capability.

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TikTok outages spark fears over data control and censorship in the US

Widespread TikTok disruptions affected users across the US as snowstorms triggered power outages and technical failures, with reports of malfunctioning algorithms and missing content features.

Problems persisted for some users beyond the initial incident, adding to uncertainty surrounding the platform’s stability.

The outage coincided with the creation of a new US-based TikTok joint venture following government concerns over potential Chinese access to user data. TikTok stated that a power failure at a domestic data centre caused the disruption, rather than ownership restructuring or policy changes.

Suspicion grew among users due to overlapping political events, including large-scale protests in Minneapolis and reports of difficulties searching for related content. Fears of censorship spread online, although TikTok attributed all disruptions to infrastructure failure.

The incident also resurfaced concerns over TikTok’s privacy policy, which outlines the collection of sensitive personal data. While some disclosures predated the ownership deal, the timing reinforced broader anxieties over social media surveillance during periods of political tension.

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TikTok restructures operations for US market

TikTok has finalised a deal allowing the app to continue operating in America by separating its US business from its global operations. The agreement follows years of political pressure in the US over national security concerns.

Under the arrangement, a new entity will manage TikTok’s US operations, with user data and algorithms handled inside the US. The recommendation algorithm has been licensed and will now be trained only on US user data to meet American regulatory requirements.

Ownership of TikTok’s US business is shared among American and international investors, while China-based ByteDance retains a minority stake. Oracle will oversee data security and cloud infrastructure for users in the US.

Analysts say the changes could alter how the app functions for the roughly 200 million users in the US. Questions remain over whether a US-trained algorithm will perform as effectively as the global version.

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TikTok faces perilous legal challenge over child safety concerns

British parents suing TikTok over the deaths of their children have called for greater accountability from the platform, as the case begins hearings in the United States. One of the claimants said social media companies must be held accountable for the content shown to young users.

Ellen Roome, whose son died in 2022, said the lawsuit is about understanding what children were exposed to online.

The legal filing claims the deaths were a foreseeable result of TikTok’s design choices, which allegedly prioritised engagement over safety. TikTok has said it prohibits content that encourages dangerous behaviour.

Roome is also campaigning for proposed legislation that would allow parents to access their children’s social media accounts after a death. She said the aim is to gain clarity and prevent similar tragedies.

TikTok said it removes most harmful content before it is reported and expressed sympathy for the families. The company is seeking to dismiss the case, arguing that the US court lacks jurisdiction.

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Reddit overtakes TikTok in the UK social media race

In the UK, Reddit has quietly overtaken TikTok to become Britain’s fourth most-visited social media platform, marking a major shift in how people search for information and share opinions online.

Use of the platform among UK internet users has risen sharply over the past two years, driven strongly by younger audiences who are increasingly drawn to open discussion instead of polished influencer content.

Google’s algorithm changes have helped accelerate Reddit’s rise by prioritising forum-based conversations in search results. Partnership deals with major AI companies have reinforced visibility further, as AI tools increasingly cite Reddit threads.

Younger users in the UK appear to value unfiltered and experience-based conversations, creating strong growth across lifestyle, beauty, parenting and relationship communities, alongside major expansion in football-related discussion.

Women now make up more than half of Reddit’s UK audience, signalling a major demographic shift for a platform once associated mainly with male users. Government departments, including ministers, are also using Reddit for direct engagement through public Q&A sessions.

Tension remains part of the platform’s culture, yet company leaders argue that community moderation and voting systems help manage behaviour.

Reddit is now encouraging users to visit directly instead of arriving via search or AI summaries, positioning the platform as a human alternative to automated answers.

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Polish authorities flag TikTok for potential election interference

Polish authorities have urged the European Commission to investigate TikTok over AI-generated content advocating Poland’s exit from the European Union. Officials say the videos pose risks to democratic processes and public order.

Deputy Minister for Digitalisation Dariusz Standerski highlighted that the narratives, distribution patterns, and synthetic audiovisual material suggest TikTok may not be fulfilling its obligations under the EU Digital Services Act for Very Large Online Platforms.

The associated TikTok account has since disappeared from the platform.

The Digital Services Act requires platforms to address systemic risks, including disinformation, and allows fines of up to 6% of a company’s global annual turnover for non-compliance. TikTok and the Commission have not provided immediate comment.

Authorities emphasised that the investigation could set an important precedent for how EU countries address AI-driven disinformation on major social media platforms.

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Fake weight loss adverts removed from TikTok

TikTok removed fake adverts for weight loss drugs after a company impersonating UK retailer Boots used AI-generated videos. The clips falsely showed healthcare professionals promoting prescription-only medicines.

Boots said it contacted TikTok after becoming aware of the misleading adverts circulating on the platform. TikTok confirmed the videos were removed for breaching its rules on deceptive and harmful advertising.

BBC reporting found the account was briefly able to repost the same videos before being taken down. The account appeared to be based in Hong Kong and directed users to a website selling the drugs.

UK health regulators warned that prescription-only weight loss medicines must only be supplied by registered pharmacies. TikTok stated that it continues to strengthen its detection systems and bans the promotion of controlled substances.

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Digital gift cards signal TikTok Shop’s retail expansion

TikTok Shop has introduced digital gift cards as part of its wider push into e-commerce. Users can purchase cards for $10 to $500 and choose animated designs for occasions such as birthdays or weddings. Availability is currently limited to the United States.

Recipients must have a TikTok account to redeem a gift card, and the balance is added to their TikTok Wallet instantly. Users can reply with a thank-you message or send a gift card as a return gesture. The approach reinforces TikTok’s focus on social interaction alongside transactions.

The feature puts the digital shop in more direct competition with established e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and eBay, which have long offered digital gift cards. Moves into higher-end retail to broaden its ambitions. The social media powerhouse is positioning itself as a full-scale online marketplace.

Momentum has continued to build, with US sales exceeding $500 million during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday period. The results highlight rising consumer confidence in the platform’s ability to drive purchases. Engagement is increasingly translating into measurable commerce.

Further developments are planned, including video messages and an interactive unboxing experience, which are expected to be released in early 2026. Expansion continues despite uncertainty around the platform’s future in the US. Negotiations over a potential sale remain unresolved ahead of January 2026.

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US TikTok investors face uncertainty as sale delayed again

Investors keen to buy TikTok’s US operations say they are left waiting as the sale is delayed again. ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese owner, was required to sell or be blocked under a 2024 law.

US President Donald Trump seems set to extend the deadline for a fifth time. Billionaires, including Frank McCourt, Alexis Ohanian and Kevin O’Leary, are awaiting approval.

Investor McCourt confirmed his group has raised the necessary capital and is prepared to move forward once the sale is allowed. National security concerns remain the main reason for the ongoing delays.

Project Liberty, led by McCourt, plans to operate TikTok without Chinese technology, including the recommendation algorithm. The group has developed alternative systems to run the platform independently.

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